Calasparra Rice - 1Kg

Product Information

Basmati rice unfortunately is one of those varieties of rice that you should not use for your paella. If Calasparra rice isn’t available in your supermarkets, then head for the arborio. Arborio rice is easy to find and the next best alternative to paella rice. FAQs What makes a good paella?

Adjust Cooking Time: Basmati rice cooks faster than traditional paella rice, so you’ll need to reduce the cooking time. Depending on the variety and brand, Basmati rice generally cooks in about 10-15 minutes. Paella is supposed to be dry. Paella is cooked in broth but isn’t determined to be finished until all the broth is reduced and a caramelized film is on the bottom of your paella pan. Final Thoughts However it is important to note that just because you are using arborio as your substitute, it does not mean that you will get a risotto like consistency when making your paella.

Food for Thought

Sofrito: A mixture of garlic, onions, tomatoes, and sometimes bell peppers, sautéed together to form the flavor base of the paella. Forgot to include calamari in the above photo! if you don’t find rings, buy a squid tube then slice it – as pictured below. Toast the Orzo: Before adding the liquid, you can toast the orzo in a little bit of olive oil in the pan. This step is optional but can add a nice nutty flavor to the dish. If you don’t like rice, but want to make a similar dish, couscous may be a paella substitute option for you. How to Select the Right Rice Substitute for Paella The liquid to rice ratio for paella is usually 1 cup of rice to 3 cups of liquid which is on the softer side than ideal. I use slightly less (2.3 cups liquid per 1 cup rice) because seafood drops a LOT of liquid (especially mussels) and you can always add more water/broth at the end to soften / finish cooking rice but you cannot UNDO overcooked, bloated, mushy rice.

Calrose Rice: Food blog, The Spruce Eats, states that Calrose rice is another great alternative. Calrose rice is typically cultivated in California, so it is a great domestic product that can be available to people across the country. Saffron: If you have saffron available, you can still use it to infuse the broth and give the dish a touch of the characteristic paella flavor and color. With similar flavors and textures, Calasparra rice mimics the distinct attributes of paella rice that make the dish superb.

Can You Use Any Rice for Paella?

The cultivation of rice in Spain began to decline after the Christian Reconquest due to beliefs that it was a "Muslim" food. However, population growth on the Iberian Peninsula in the 18th century resulted in a resurgence in demand for many crops—rice being one of them. Making any paella like seafood paella, paella mixto, or paella valenciana does not need to be difficult.